About Our Church In Orland Park, IL

Not Really "About Us!"

Nope! This is about you and God. We at Southbridge Church in Orland Park want to put the two of you together. If you're reading this, you've probably been looking at churches near Orland Park or one of the surrounding suburbs like Tinley Park, Oak Forest, or Palos Park. Basically the search that brought you to our church is not about church but connecting with God and positive people who lead a better life because of their faith.

Southbridge Church in Orland Park is a true multi-generational church family. We are not typified by age group, race, or marital status. In a typical worship service you'd see teens worshipping alongside seniors, young adults, singles, couples, and families. Your are welcome wherever you are at on your spiritual journey. Our congregation defines itself as a church and not a “mega” or “corporate” church. We are small enough to care, big enough to make a difference.

We want you to feel like you belong and can become all God wants you to be. Our goal is to help you grow closer to God and stronger in your faith by providing a genuinely friendly environment where you can connect with God while building real, lasting friendships with those who can support and encourage you in your faith.

Our motto is that it is better to bless a second chance than judge the past. So if you are worried about the roof falling in or something because you are not that religious or churchy, don't be. We echo the words of Pope Francis, “Who am I to judge?” We too are sinners who have experienced God's life changing grace. As you read more about our church below, we want this to remain about you and God- not about programs, styles of church music, or denominational slants. Our goal as a church is to be a conduit to help you connect with the God and help people find answers to your spiritual questions about God and the Bible, so that you can be a better person by loving God and others more.

Our History

SouthBridge Church was created by the historic merger of two churches: Lightpost Church in Orland Park and Southwest Community Church in Palos Heights.

Lightpost Church (formerly Salem Baptist Church, formerly Swedish Baptist Church), dates back to 1885 on Emerald Avenue in Chicago. Two geographical moves and name changes later, the church's presence in Orland Park has been a strong one, noted for its outstanding youth, sports, and children's programs. The tall, white, circular design of the building has served as an Orland Park landmark for almost 30 years.

Southwest Community Church was a non denominational Christian church started from scratch in 2000. The church quickly grew and gained a reputation for drawing 20-somethings, appealing to people who have never been to church before, and participating in and hosting community and charity events.

Now one non denominational Christian church, Southbridge Church is a true multi-generational church, encompassing every age group. We believe that our merger has given us greater resources, generational diversity, and stronger programs in order to better serve families and the community.

Our Stories

The stories of people's changed lives are hard to convey in a paragraph or two. Many have met and married their spouses here. Life long friendships have been forged. Those unemployed have found jobs through friends at the church.

Then there are the stories of people's hearts. Some who've given up on God and church after their parent's divorce are trusting God again. Others who never went to church before have discovered His grace and love. They believed in “a God,” but now feel they know Him personally.

Those who moved into the area for the first time now have a supportive group of positive friends to journey through life's changes with. Many have found the next step of their faith at SouthBridge. Having grown up in CCD, Sunday School, or youth groups, their faith took a back seat to the dizzying changes that young adulthood brought. Sunday School, CCD, and youth group all related to their lives at that age, but then lost meaning in the grown up world until their path crossed God's again at SouthBridge.

You may be reading this and wondering, “Where do I fit in?” The story isn't over yet. We want you to know that our doors are open to you no matter what your religious background (or lack of one), age or race- even if you don't consider yourself religious. We invite you to visit us soon and help us write the next chapter of the SouthBridge Story.